McDonnell Refuses Comment on Unreported Gifts

WASHINGTON - APRIL 27: Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA) pauses while speaking during the 7th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast April 27, 2011 in Washington, DC. Former House Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-GA), a potential 2012 Republican US Presidential candidate, McDonnell, and others spoke at the annual gathering of Catholics who held this year's event in honor of Pope John Paul II, the leader of the Catholic Church who died in 2005. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)Credit: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Bob McDonnell is refusing to comment on a $6,500 Rolex watch that published reports say he received from a major campaign donor who has lavished his family with thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts he has not disclosed publicly.

When asked on his monthly radio show Thursday about the watch, McDonnell cited ongoing federal and state criminal investigations in declining to comment. The Washington Post reports the watch was purchased by Jonnie Williams, chief executive of nutritional supplement maker Star Scientific Inc.

On Richmond’s WRVA radio, McDonnell called the anonymously sourced reports false and misleading, but didn’t specify how or why. He noted that a Richmond prosecutor is reviewing his required economic disclosure forms and said he’ll amend them to disclose unreported gifts if any omissions are deemed improper.